| I took my heart in my hand |
| (O my love, O
my love), |
| I said : Let me fall or stand, |
| Let me live or
die, |
| But this once hear me speak - |
| (O my love, O my love)
- |
| Yet a woman’s words are weak ; |
You should speak, not I.
|
| You took my heart in your hand |
| With a friendly smile, |
| With a critical eye you scanned, |
| Then set it down, |
| And said : It is still unripe, |
| Better wait awhile ; |
| Wait while the skylarks pipe, |
Till the corn grows brown.
|
| As you set it down it broke - |
| Broke, but I did not wince ; |
| I smiled at the speech you spoke, |
| At your judgement that I heard : |
| But I have not often smiled |
| Since then, nor questioned since, |
| Nor cared for corn-flowers wild, |
Nor sung with the singing bird.
|
| I take my heart in my hand, |
| O my God, O my God, |
| My broken heart in my hand, |
| Thou hast seen, judge thou. |
| My hope was written on sand, |
| O my God, O my God : |
| Now let thy judgement stand - |
Yea, judge me now.
|
| This contemned of a man, |
| This marred one heedless day, |
| This heart take thou to scan |
| Both within and without : |
| Refine with fire its gold, |
| Purge thou its
dross away - |
| Yea, hold it in thy hold, |
Whence none can pluck it out.
|
| I take my heart in my hand
- |
| I shall not
die, but live - |
| Before thy face I stand ; |
| I, for thou callest such : |
| All that I have I bring, |
| All that I am I give, |
| Smile thou and I shall sing, |
But shall not question much.
|
|
Christina Rossetti |
Classic Poems |
| |
|
[ A Birthday ] [ A Pause of Thought ] [ Marvel of Marvels ] [ Rest ] [ Echo ] [ Twice ] [ Aloof ] [ Uphill ] [ Remember ] [ Song ] [ Somewhere or Other ] |
